I was taken into this home way back in 1947 at the age 2. My house matron was a Mrs Walker, who turned out to be quiet wicked, and not someone you would trust with to-days kids. The school was within the grounds of the houses complex, and I remember seeing considerable bomb damage to the school at one end of the building. There was some sort of lodge house to the entrance of the grounds, and many houses formed the complex of residential care. The homes came under control of the London County Council, and they provided holiday trips and pantomimes for all the children.
I had a very bad habit of wetting the bed, and this carried on until 8-9 years into my life. Mrs walker punished me harshly for this problem, and apart from having freezing cold baths I was also forced to sit on the toilet for what seemed like eternity. I tried everything to avoid the cold baths, and even used my legs in an effort to dry my wet sheets by friction of movement. Not surprising, this killed my hair roots on my legs, and my hairs have never grown again since. By to-days standards she would have faced prosecution but, in those days you cried your way through all the pain and suffering, and hence my bed wetting became more prolonged than it should have done.
I left this home around the time when I was 10 or 11 to go to Wood Vale cottage homes in Norbury, Croydon, and then to Hornchuch cottage homes in Hornchurch, Essex. I finished up going to Stockgrove Park School in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, a residential home for backward children. I could not even spell my name, read or write, a total education wreck so to speak. I stayed there for one year and left in 1961 after passing my IQ test, a better person for the education I received.
As you can see my life went through many dark periods, no family life, no real friends only to be released into society that was totally alien to my way of thinking and the life I left behind. I spent many years inside prisons of every description until I was given a council flat, a home at last that transformed my life since. I have stayed clear of trouble since 1981, and although I skimp by on a pension I do have the benefit of turning my life around and being happy.
I think all problem children have a quest in life whatever their back ground, it just needs people in high places to recognise what help they require to invigorate their inspirations to have a decent life ahead of them, you cannot build a house without bricks.
I hope my letter has been helpful in acquiring information about this home.
Many regards Victor.
